Wilcannia's only grocer closes

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TIM PALMER: Residents of an Aboriginal community in the far west New South Wales town of Wilcannia have been left with nowhere to buy fresh food, after the town's only store closed its doors. The shop was being investigated over alleged price gouging, after the ABC revealed local resident's complaints.

Now the State Government says it's doing what it can to help residents, but the Greens say something should have been done months ago. And that a community-run co-op store would have prevented the situation.

Natalie Whiting reports from the far west of New South Wales.

NATALIE WHITING: Residents in Wilcannia have been left shocked and concerned by the sudden closure of the town's IGA. The head of the local land council, Jack Beetson says the store shut its doors on Monday.

JACK BEETSON: There's no signage whatsoever to say that it is closed, or when it might open again and that's quite concerning in a town like this, which is absolutely dependent on that store for its food security.

NATALIE WHITING: Around 600 people live in Wilcannia and the town has an unemployment rate of 12 per cent. Mr Beetson says it's very concerning that the closest supermarket is now two hours away, in Broken Hill.

JACK BEETSON: I feel vulnerable. I'm out here and all of a sudden, when you weren't looking in the cupboard to see what food you've got left, now you are! But I have the capacity to drive over to Broken Hill; not everybody has that.

NATALIE WHITING: Concerns have previously been raised about the price and quality of the food at the supermarket and Australian Consumer Law regulators visited the town recently. The Minister for Fair Trading was in Wilcannia last month and said he was "disturbed" and "alarmed" by the prices at the store.

The Greens MP, David Shoebridge says he told the Government months ago that a community-run co-op store needed to be set up to provide fairly priced food.

DAVID SHOEBRIDGE: It's been clear for a long time, that the residents of Wilcannia need some fresh food options. Last time that I was there, the prices that they were being charged in their one store were extraordinary, the quality was poor.

NATALIE WHITING: He says action should have been taken sooner.

DAVID SHOEBRIDGE: Slow steps are not good enough now. The store's shut, they've got no access to fresh food in Wilcannia; there needs to be urgent action by the New South Wales Government.

NATALIE WHITING: This morning Premier Barry O'Farrell said he was concerned about the closure.

BARRY O'FARRELL: We're not Woolies, we're not Coles, but we are trying to ensure that this gap is filled, particularly given the consequences for people that live in that town.

NATALIE WHITING: When asked about the co-op idea the Premier said he was discussing it with the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs today. David Shoebridge says the problem could be potentially fixed in days.

DAVID SHOEBRIDGE: You can establish the co-op, get some food into the town, get it at fair prices. You really could, if there was commitment from the Government, get this happening in a matter of days or weeks.

NATALIE WHITING: Jack Beetson is backing calls for a co-op store and says the land council has also been trying to establish a fruit and vegetable market garden.

JACK BEETSON: It's extremely important that small communities, wherever they are, can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables like everyone else can. And if that needs to be subsidised by the rest of Australia, then so be it. That should be part of our human rights obligations.

NATALIE WHITING: The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is looking at bringing in emergency supplies to the town, while the petrol station has stocked up on bread and milk.